Transmissive liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprises at least a backlight, a polarizer, a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm, a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation, a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates, a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure, and is less in display characteristic variation, bright in display, high in contrast, and less in viewing angle dependence.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Section 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2006/322422, filed Nov. 2, 2006, which was published in the Japanese language on Aug. 23, 2008, under International Publication No. WO 2007/094103 A1 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to transmissive liquid crystal display devices used for office automation (OA) equipment such as word processors and personal computers, mobile information terminals such as personal digital assistants and mobile telephones, or camcorders equipped with a liquid crystal monitor.

A liquid crystal display device usually comprises a liquid crystal cell, a polarizer and an optical compensation sheet (retardation plate). A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of polarizers, a liquid crystal cell sandwiched therebetween, a single or plurality of optical compensation sheets disposed between the liquid crystal cell and either one or both of the polarizers.

The liquid crystal cell comprises rod-like liquid crystalline molecules, a pair of substrate for enclosing the molecules and electrode layers for applying an electric voltage to the molecules. Examples of the mode of a liquid crystal cell include TN (Twisted Nematic), STN (Super Twisted Nematic), ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence), IPS (In-Plane Switching), VA (Vertical Alignment), OCB (Optically Compensated Birefringence), HAN (Hybrid-Aligned Nematic), ASM (Axially Symmetric Aligned Microcell), Half Tone Gray Scale modes, domain divided mode, and display modes using a ferroelectric liquid crystal and an antiferroelectric liquid crystal.

The transmissive liquid crystal display devices can not avoid problems concerning viewing angle such as reduced display contrast, changes in display color and reversed gradation occurring when viewed obliquely because of the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules and thus has been demanded to be improved in these regards.

For a transmissive liquid crystal display device using a TN mode (twisted angle of liquid crystal is 90 degrees), a method for solving these problems has been proposed and practically used wherein optical compensation films are disposed between the liquid crystal cell and each of the upper and lower polarizers.

For example, there are known some structures wherein an optical compensation film composed of hybrid-aligned discotic liquid crystal or nematic hybrid-aligned liquid crystalline polymer is disposed between the liquid crystal cell and each of the upper and lower polarizers (Patent Document Nos. 1 to 3 below).

However, the TN mode can improve the range where contrast widens but is wide in the range where gradation reverses and thus is not necessarily sufficient in viewing angle characteristics. This is because the range where gradation reverses is widened by the molecules in the liquid crystal cell slanting up to the 90 degree direction due to that the liquid crystal layer is twisted at 90 degrees.

For the reasons described above, the mode of a liquid crystal cell is preferably a display mode using an ECB mode wherein the liquid crystal molecules are twisted at an angle of zero degree and homogeneously aligned in the sense of narrowing the range where gradation reverses. An arrangement for improving the viewing angle of the ECB mode is proposed wherein two nematic hybrid-aligned optical compensation films and two uniaxial retardation films are disposed so that each of the compensation films and each of the retardation films are located above and below the homogeneous liquid crystal cell, respectively (Patent Document No. 4).

However, this method can not solve the problems concerning viewing angle such as reduced display contrast, changes in display color and reversed gradation occurring when the liquid crystal display device is viewed obliquely and has left problems including large fluctuations in displaying characteristics due to the variation in the parameter of each film, the increased total film thickness, and the lower reliability of the device because of the use of four film in total above and below the cell, all of which have been demanded to improve.

(1) Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2640083

(2) Patent Document No. 2: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 11-194325

(3) Patent Document No. 3: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 11-194371

(4) Patent Document No. 4: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-202101

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention intends to solve the above-described problems and provide a transmissive liquid crystal display device that is less in displaying characteristic variation, bright in display images, high in contrast and less in viewing angle dependency.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the second optically anisotropic layer has a plane direction retardation (Re) in the range of 0 nm to 30 nm and a thickness direction retardation (Rth) in the range of −200 nm to −30 nm, both at a wavelength of 550 nm, when the relationship of the principal indices of refraction, (Re), and (Rth) are represented by formulas (1) to (3), respectively:

nx≧ny>nz  (1)

Re=(nx−ny)xd  (2)

Rth={nz−(nx+ny)/2}xd  (3)

wherein nx and ny denote principal indices of plane direction refraction of the optically anisotropic layer, nz denotes a principal index of thickness direction refraction of the optically anisotropic layer, and d denotes the thickness (nm) thereof.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the second optically anisotropic layer is formed from at least one type of material selected from the group consisting of liquid crystalline compounds, triacetyl cellulose, polyamides, polyimides, polyesters, polyether ketones, polyamide imides, polyester imides and cyclic olefin polymers.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the third optically anisotropic layer is a stretched polymer film.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the third optically anisotropic layer is a liquid crystal film produced by fixing a liquid crystalline substance exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, in a nematic orientation formed when the substance is in the liquid crystal state.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the angle defined by the tilt direction of the hybrid direction of the liquid crystal film forming the first optically anisotropic layer, projected to a plane and the rubbing direction of the liquid crystal layer is in the range of 0±30 degrees.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the angle defined by the tilt direction of the hybrid direction of the liquid crystal film forming the first optically anisotropic layer, projected to a plane and the slow axis of the third optically anisotropic layer is in the range of 70 degrees or larger and smaller than 110 degrees.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive liquid crystal display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first optically anisotropic layer is a liquid crystal film produced by fixing a liquid crystalline substance exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, in a nematic hybrid orientation formed when the substance is in the liquid crystal state, and the average tilt angle of the nematic hybrid orientation is in the range of 5 to 45 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view for describing the tilt and twisted angles of a liquid crystal molecule.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view for describing the aligned structure of the liquid crystal film forming the second optically anisotropic layer.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view for describing the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of Example 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view indicating the angular relation of the absorption axes of the polarizers, the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell, the slow axes of the polymeric stretched films and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal film in Example 1.

FIG. 6 is a view indicating the contrast ratio when viewing the liquid crystal display device of Example 1 from all the directions.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of Example 2.

FIG. 8 is a plan view indicating the angular relation of the absorption axes of the polarizers, the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell, the slow axes of the polymeric stretched films and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal film in Example 2.

FIG. 9 is a view indicating the contrast ratio when viewing the liquid crystal display device of Example 2 from all the directions.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of Example 3.

FIG. 11 is a plan view indicating the angular relation of the absorption axes of the polarizers, the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell, the slow axes of the polymeric stretched films and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal film in Example 3.

FIG. 12 is a view indicating the contrast ratio when viewing the liquid crystal display device of Example 3 from all the directions.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of Example 4.

FIG. 14 is a plan view indicating the angular relation of the absorption axes of the polarizers, the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell, the slow axes of the polymeric stretched films and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal film in Example 4.

FIG. 15 is a view indicating the contrast ratio when viewing the liquid crystal display device of Example 4 from all the directions.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 17 is a view indicating the contrast ratio when viewing the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1 from all the directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in more detail below.

The transmissive liquid crystal display device of the present invention has a configuration selected from the four patterns below and if necessary may contain components such as a light diffusing layer, a light control film, a light guide plate and a prism sheet. However, there is no particular restriction on the configuration excluding the use of the first optically anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation. Any of the configuration patterns (A) to (D) may be used in order to obtain optical characteristics with less viewing angle dependency.

(A) polarizer/third optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/second optically anisotropic layer/first optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight

(B) polarizer/third optically anisotropic layer/second optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/first optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight

(C) polarizer/first optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/second optically anisotropic layer/third optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight

(D) polarizer/first optically anisotropic layer/second optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/third optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight

Constituting members used in the present invention will be described.

First of all, description will be given of the liquid crystal cell used in the present invention.

The mode of the liquid crystal cell used in the present invention is a homogeneously aligned cell mode. The homogeneously aligned cell used herein is a cell with a twisted angle of substantially zero degree. The term “substantially zero degree” refers to an angle of zero degree or greater and 5 degrees or smaller. The retardation (Δnd) of the liquid crystal cell is preferably from 200 to 400 nm, more preferably from 250 to 350 nm. A retardation deviating from these ranges is not preferable because undesired coloration or reduced brightness would be invited.

There is no particular restriction on the driving mode of the liquid crystal cell, which may, therefore, be a passive matrix mode used in an STN-LCD, an active matrix mode using active electrodes such as TFT (Thin Film Transistor) electrodes and TFD (Thin Film Diode) electrodes, and a plasma address mode.

The liquid crystal cell is composed of a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two transparent substrate disposed to face each other(the viewer's side substrate may be referred to as “upper substrate” and the backlight side's substrate may be referred to as “lower substrate”).

There is no particular restriction on the liquid crystalline material forming the liquid crystal layer. Examples of the material include various low molecular weight liquid crystalline substances, polymeric liquid crystalline substances, and mixtures thereof, which can constitute various liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystalline material may be blended with dyes, chiral dopoants, or non-liquid crystalline substances to an extent that they do not prevent the liquid crystal substance from exhibiting liquid crystallinity. The liquid crystal cell may be provided with various components required for the above-described various liquid crystal cell modes or various components described below.

There is no particular restriction on the transparent substrates forming the liquid crystal cell as long as they can align a liquid crystalline material forming a liquid crystal layer in a specific alignment direction. More specific examples include those which themselves have a property of aligning a liquid crystalline material and those which themselves have no capability of aligning but are provided with an alignment layer capable of aligning a liquid crystalline material. The electrode of the liquid crystal cell may be any conventional electrode, such as ITO. The electrode may be usually arranged on the surface of the transparent substrate, which surface contacts the liquid crystal layer. In the case of using a transparent substrate with an alignment layer, an electrode may be provided between the alignment layer and the substrate.

There is no particular limitation on the polarizer used in the present invention as long as the objects of the present invention can be achieved. Therefore, the polarizer may be any conventional ones that are generally used in liquid crystal display devices. Specific examples include PVA-based polarizing films such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and partial acetalized PVA, polarizing films such as those produced by stretching a hydrophilic polymeric film comprising a partially saponified product of an ehtylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and absorbing iodine and/or dichroic dye, and those comprising a polyene-oriented film such as a dechlorinated product of polyvinyl chloride. Alternatively, there may be used reflection type polarizers.

These polarizers may be used alone or in combination with a transparent protective layer provided on one or both surfaces of the polarizer for the purpose of enhancing the strength, moisture resistance, and heat resistance. Examples of the transparent protective layer include those formed by laminating a transparent plastic film such as polyester, triacetyl cellulose or a cyclic olefin polymer directly or via an adhesive layer on the polarizer; coated layers of transparent resin; and acrylic- or epoxy-based photo-setting type resin layers. When the protective layers are coated on the both surfaces of the polarizing film, they may be the same or different from one another.

The first optically anisotropic layer used in the present invention is a layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film produced by fixing a liquid crystalline polymer exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, more specifically a polymeric liquid crystalline compound exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality or a polymeric liquid crystalline composition containing at least one type selected from the polymeric liquid crystalline compounds and exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, in a nematic hybrid orientation with an average tilt angle of 5 to 45 degrees, formed when the liquid crystalline polymeric compound or composition is in a liquid crystal state.

The term “nematic hybrid orientation” used herein refers to an orientation structure wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a nematic orientation wherein the angles of the directors of the liquid crystalline molecules relative to the film upper surface and the lower film surface are different from each other. Therefore, since the angles formed by the directors and the film planes are different between in the vicinities of the upper and lower interfaces of the film, the nematic hybrid orientation can be referred to as an orientation wherein the angles vary continuously between the upper and lower film surfaces.

In a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation structure, the directors of the liquid crystalline molecules are directed at different angles in all the positions in the film thickness direction. Therefore, it can be said that there no longer exists optical axis in the whole film structure.

The term “average tilt angle” used herein refers to an average value of the angles defined between the directors of the liquid crystalline molecules and a film plane, in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal film. In the liquid crystal film used in the present invention, the absolute value of the angle formed by a director in the vicinity of one of the film surfaces and the film surface is generally from 20 to 90 degrees, preferably from 40 to 85 degrees, more preferably from 70 to 80 degrees while the absolute value of the angle formed by the director and the other film surface is generally from 0 to 20 degrees, preferably from 0 to 10 degrees. The absolute value of the average tilt angle is generally from 5 to 45 degrees, preferably 20 to 45 degrees, more preferably 25 to 43 degrees, most preferably 36 to 40 degrees. The average tilt angle, if deviating from the above ranges, would cause the contrast of the resulting liquid crystal display device to decrease when the device is viewed from an oblique direction. The average tilt angle can be determined by applying a crystal rotation method.

The liquid crystal film forming the first optically anisotropic layer used in the present invention comprises a liquid crystalline polymeric compound or a liquid crystalline polymeric composition as described above with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation and a specific average tilt angle but may be formed from any liquid crystalline material as long as the material can be aligned in a nematic hybrid orientation and satisfies the requirement concerning the specific average tilt angle, as described above. For example, the film may be a liquid crystal film produced by allowing a low molecular weight liquid crystalline material to be in a liquid crystal state, and then aligning the material in a nematic hybrid orientation and fixing the aligned orientation by photo- or thermal-cross-linking. The term “liquid crystal film” used herein refers to those produced by forming a liquid crystalline substance such as a low molecular weight or polymeric liquid crystalline substance into a film, regardless of whether or not the liquid crystal film itself exhibits liquid crystallinity.

The thickness of the film required to be such that the film can exhibit viewing angle improving effect more suitable for a liquid crystal display device varies depending on the mode of the device in which the film is used or various optical parameters and thus can not be determined with certainty. However, the film thickness is usually from 0.2 to 10 μm, preferably from 0.3 to 5 μm, particularly preferably from 0.5 to 2 μm. A film thickness of less than 0.2 μm would fail to attain a sufficient compensation effect. A film thickness of greater than 10 μm would cause unnecessary colored image in the liquid crystal display device.

With regard to an apparent retardation value in the plane of the liquid crystal film when viewed from the normal direction thereof, the refractive index (ne) in the direction parallel to directors is different from the refractive index (no) in the direction perpendicular to directors, in a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation structure and, therefore, assuming that the value obtained by subtracting no from ne (ne-no) is an apparent birefringence, an apparent retardation value is given as the product of the apparent birefringence and the absolute film thickness. This retardation value is easily obtained by a polarization optical measurement such as ellipsometry. The retardation value of the liquid crystal film used as the optically anisotropic layer is from 50 to 140 nm, preferably from 70 to 120 nm with respect to a monochromic light of 550 nm. A retardation value of smaller than 50 nm would result in failure to attain a sufficient viewing angle widening effect. A retardation value of larger than 140 nm would cause unnecessary coloration on the liquid crystal display device when viewed obliquely.

The specific conditions for the arrangement of the optical anisotropic layers in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described in more details. In order to describe the specific arrangement conditions, the upper and lower planes and tilt direction of the optically anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal film and the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell are defined as follows using FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the upper and lower planes of the optically anisotropic layer formed of the liquid crystal film are defined by the angles formed by the directors of the liquid crystalline molecules in the vicinity of the film interfaces and the film planes, the plane forming an angle of 20 to 90 degrees at the acute angle side with the director is defined as “b-plane”, while the plane forming an angle of 0 to 20 degrees at the acute angle side with the director is defined as “c-plane”.

When c-plane is viewed from b-plane through the optically anisotropic layer, the direction in which the angles between the directors of the liquid crystal molecules and the projection thereof to the c-plane are acute and which is parallel to the projection is defined as “tilt direction” (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Next, on the cell interface of the liquid crystal cell, the low molecular weight liquid crystal for driving the liquid crystal cell is not generally parallel to the cell interface and tilted at a certain angle, which angle is generally referred to as “pre-tilt angle”. However, a direction along which the director of a liquid crystalline molecule on the cell interface and the projection thereof form an acute angle and which is parallel to the projection is herein defined as “pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell” (see FIG. 3).

The second optically anisotropic layer used in the present invention is negative in refractive index anisotropy, i.e., satisfies the requirement defined by formula (1) below, and preferably the nx and ny of the second optically anisotropic layer are substantially equal to one another. The second optically anisotropic layer is also preferably from −200 to −30 nm, more preferably from −150 to −50 nm in Rth (retardation in the thickness direction) defined by formula (2) below while second optically anisotropic layer is preferably from 0 to 30 nm, more preferably from 0 to 10 nm in Re (retardation in the plane direction) defined by formula (3) below:

nx≧ny>nz  (1)

Rth={nz−(nx+ny)/2}xd  (2)

Re=(nx−ny)xd  (3)

wherein nx and ny denote principal indices of plane direction refraction of the optically anisotropic layer, nz denotes a principal index of thickness direction refraction of the optically anisotropic layer, and d denotes the thickness (nm) thereof, Re and Rth are valued measured at a wavelength of 550 nm.

In the present invention, the second optically anisotropic layer may be formed of a single layer or multi layers as long as it satisfies the requirement defined by formulas (1) to (3). The second optically anisotropic layer may be a polymer film wherein optical anisotropy is exhibited or any of those wherein optical anisotropy is exhibited by aligning liquid crystalline molecules. When the second optically anisotropic element is a polymer film, examples thereof include triacetyl cellulose, polyarnides, polyimides, polyesters, polyetherketones, polyamideimides, polyesterimides, and modified polycarbonates. There is no particular restriction on these materials and any material other than these material can be used if it can assume an aligned state of polymer molecule chain as in the case with the aligned state of the molecular chain of the foregoing materials. Among these materials, preferred are polymer films formed from triacetyl cellulose. Polymer films may be biaxially stretched so as to exhibit the desired Rth. Alternatively, Rth may be adjusted by adding additives to a polymer. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2000-111914 and 2001-166144 disclose techniques for adjusting the Rth of triacetyl cellulose.

When the second optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystalline molecules, it is formed from preferably discotic liquid crystalline molecules or cholesteric liquid crystalline molecules, more preferably discotic liquid crystalline molecules. Aligning of discotic liquid crystalline molecules substantially horizontally with respect to a substrate renders it possible to form a layer exhibiting a negative optical anisotropy. Such an alignment technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-352328 and also can be utilized in the present invention. The term “substantially horizontally” means that the average angle formed by the optical axis of a discotic liquid crystalline molecule and the normal direction of a substrate is within the range of 0±10 degrees. Discotic liquid crystalline molecules may be obliquely aligned at an average tilt angle of not 0 degree (specifically within a range of 0±10 degrees) or may be aligned in a hybrid orientation wherein tilt angle gradually changes. Alternatively, the foregoing aligned state may be deformed to be twisted by adding a chiral dopoant or applying shear stress.

Cholesteric liquid crystalline molecules exhibit a negative optical anisotropy with their helical twisted orientation. Aligning helically cholesteric liquid crystalline molecules and controlling the twist angle or retardation value render it possible to obtain desired optical characteristics. Cholesteric liquid crystalline molecules can be aligned in a twisted orientation with a conventional manner. Liquid crystalline molecules are preferably fixed in an aligned state and more preferably fixed therein by polymerization.

Description will be given of preferable discotic liquid crystalline molecules forming the second optically anisotropic layer. Discotic liquid crystalline molecules are preferably aligned substantially horizontally (average tilt angle within the range of 0 to 10 degrees) to a polymer film plane. Discotic liquid crystalline molecules may be obliquely aligned or may be aligned so that the tilt angle will gradually change (hybrid orientation). For either of the tilt orientation or the hybrid orientation, the average tilt angle is preferably from 0 to 40 degrees. Discotic liquid crystalline molecules are described in various literatures (Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., vol. 71, page 111 (1981), C. Destrade et al.; Quarterly Chemistry Survey, No. 22, The Chemistry of Liquid Crystals, Chapter 5, Chapter 10, Section 2 (1994), edited by Japan Chem. Soc.; Angew. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm., page 1794 (1985), B. Kohne et al.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 116, page 2,655 (1994), J. Zhang et al. Polymerization of discotic liquid-crystal molecules is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-27284. In order to fix discotic liquid crystalline molecules by polymerization, a polymerizable group should be bound to a discotic core of the discotic liquid crystalline molecules. However, if the polymerizable group is directly bound to the discotic core, it is difficult to keep the alignment at the polymerization reaction. Therefore, a linking group is introduced between the discotic core and the polymerizable group. Discotic liquid crystalline molecule having a polymerizable group is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-4837.

There is no particular restriction on the third optically anisotropic layer used in the present invention as long as it is excellent in transparency and uniformity. However, the layer is preferably a polymeric stretched film or an optical film formed from a liquid crystalline material. Examples of the polymeric stretched film include uniaxial or biaxial retardation films formed from cellulose-, polycarbonate-, polyarylate-, polysulfone-, polyacryl, polyethersulfone-, or cyclic olefin-based polymers. The third optically anisotropic layer exemplified herein may be composed of a polymeric stretched film or an optical film formed from a liquid crystalline material alone or the combination thereof. Among these polymeric stretched films, preferred are cyclic olefin-based polymers because they are cost effective and can suppress the change of color modulation of image quality due to their film uniformity and small birefringence wavelength dispersion. Examples of the optical film formed from a liquid crystalline material include those comprised of various liquid crystalline polymeric compounds of main chain- and/or side chain-types, such as liquid crystalline polyesters, liquid crystalline polycarbonates, liquid crystalline polyacrylates, or low molecular weight liquid crystalline compounds having reactivities which can be polymerized by cross-linking or the like after being aligned. These films may be a single-layered film with self-supportivity or formed over a transparent supporting substrate.

The retardation value of the third optically anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm is so adjusted to be from 130 to 210 nm. The retardation value is preferably from 140 to 180 nm.

The above-described first, second, and third optically anisotropic layers may be attached to each other via an adhesive or tacky adhesive layer.

There is no particular restriction on adhesives for forming the adhesive layer as long as they have enough adhesivity to the optically anisotropic layers and do not harm the optical characteristics thereof. Examples of the adhesives include acrylic resin-, methacrylic resin-, epoxy resin-, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer-, rubber-, urethane-, polyvinylether-based adhesives, and mixtures thereof and various reactive adhesives such as of thermal curing and/or photo curing types, and electron radiation curing types. The adhesive may be an adhesive having a function of a transparent protective layer for protecting the optically anisotropic layers.

There is no particular restriction on tacky adhesives for forming the tacky adhesive layer. There may be used any tacky adhesive appropriately selected from those containing a polymer such as an acrylic polymer, a silicone-based polymer, a polyester, a polyurethane, a polyamide, a polyether, a fluorine- or rubber-based polymer as a base polymer. In particular, it is preferred to use a tacky adhesive such as an acrylic tacky adhesive which is excellent in optical transparency, weather resistance and heat resistance and exhibits tackiness characteristics such as moderate wettability, cohesivity and adhesivity.

The adhesive layer or tacky adhesive layer may be formed by any suitable method. Examples of the method include a method wherein a base polymer or a composition thereof is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent containing toluene or ethyl acetate alone or in combination thereby preparing a tacky adhesive or adhesive solution containing 10 to 40 percent by weight of the tacky adhesive or adhesive, which solution is then directly laid over the above-described optically anisotropic layer by an appropriate developing method such as casting or coating or a method wherein a tacky adhesive or adhesive layer is formed in accordance with the method as described above on a separator and then transferred onto the optically anisotropic layers. The tacky adhesive or adhesive layer may contain additives such as natural or synthetic resins, in particular fillers or pigments containing tackiness-imparting resins, glass fibers, glass beads, metal powders, and other inorganic powders, dyes, and anti-oxidants. The tacky adhesive or adhesive layer may contain fine particles so as to exhibit light diffusivity.

When the optically anisotropic layers are attached to each other via a tacky adhesive or adhesive layer, they may be subjected to a surface treatment so as to improve their adhesivity to the tacky adhesive or adhesive layer. There is no particular restriction on the method of the surface treatment. There may be suitably used a surface treatment such as corona discharge, sputtering, low-pressure UV irradiation, or plasma treatment, which can maintain the transparency of the liquid crystal film surface. Among these surface treatments, corona discharge treatment is excellent.

Next, description will be given of the configurations of the liquid crystal display devices comprising the above-described members, according to the present invention.

The configurations of the liquid crystal display devices of the present invention are necessarily selected from the following four patterns as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 10 and 13:

(A) polarizer/third optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/second optically anisotropic layer/first optically anisotropiclayer/polarizer/backlight

(B) polarizer/third optically anisotropic layer/second optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/first optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight

(C) polarizer/first optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/second optically anisotropic layer/third optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight

(D) polarizer/first optically anisotropic layer/second optically anisotropic layer/liquid crystal cell/third optically anisotropic layer/polarizer/backlight.

The angle formed by the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal layer in the liquid crystal cell and the tilt direction of the first optically anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation is preferably from 0 to 30 degrees, more preferably 0 to 20 degrees, particularly preferably from 0 to 10 degrees. The angle of larger than 30 degrees would fail to attain a sufficient viewing angle compensation effect.

The angle formed by the slow axis of the third optically anisotropic layer and the tilt direction of the first optically anisotropic layer is preferably 70 degrees or larger and smaller than 110 degrees, more preferably 80 degrees or larger and smaller than 100 degrees. The angle of 110 degrees or larger or smaller than 70 degrees would cause a reduction in front contrast.

The angle formed by the tilt direction of the first optically anisotropic layer and the absorption axis of the polarizer is preferably 30 degrees or larger and 60 degrees or smaller, more preferably 40 degrees or larger and 50 degrees or smaller. The angle of larger than 60 degrees or smaller than 30 degrees would cause a reduction in front contrast.

The angle formed by the slow axis of the third optically anisotropic layer and the absorption axis of the polarizer is preferably 30 degrees or larger and smaller than 60 degrees, more preferably 40 degrees or larger and smaller than 50 degrees. The angle of 60 degrees or larger or smaller than 30 degrees would cause a reduction in front contrast.

There is no particular restriction on the aforesaid light diffusion layer, backlight, light controlling film, light guide plate and prism sheet, which may be those that have been conventionally used.

In addition to the above-described components, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention may be provided with other additional components. For example, the use of a color filter makes it possible to produce a color liquid crystal display device which can provide multi- or full-colored display images with increased color purity.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The liquid crystal display device of the present invention has features that it can provide bright images and is high in front contrast and less in viewing angle dependency.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be further described in the following examples, but the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. The retardations (Δnd)in the examples are values at a wavelength of 550 nm, unless stated otherwise.

(Preparation of Second Optically Anisotropic Layer 11)

A polyimide with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 70000 and a Δn of about 0.04 was synthesized from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (TFMB). On a 80 μm thick triacetyl cellulose was coated a solution of 25 percent by weight of the polyimide prepared using cyclohexanone as a solvent. The coated triacetyl cellulose was heated at a temperature of 150° C. for 5 minutes thereby producing a totally transparent smooth film 11. The film had a retardation in the plane Re=1 nm, a retardation in the thickness direction Rth=−130 nm, and nx

ny>nz.

Example 1

The configuration and axis arrangement of the liquid crystal display device of Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.

On a substrate 1 is arranged a transparent electrode 3 formed from a highly transparent material such as ITO while on a substrate 2 is a counter electrode 4 formed from a highly transparent material such as ITO. A liquid crystal layer 5 formed from a liquid crystalline material exhibiting positive dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched between the transparent electrode 3 and the counter electrode 4. A third optically anisotropic layer 9 and a polarizer 7 are arranged on the side of the substrate 2, opposite to the side on which the counter electrode 4 is formed while a second optically anisotropic layer 11, a first optically anisotropic layer 10 and a polarizer 8 are arranged on the side of the substrate 1, opposite to the side on which the transparent electrode 3 is formed. The backlight 12 is arranged in the rear side of the polarizer 8, as viewed from the viewer.

In accordance with the disclosures of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-347742, a first optically anisotropic layer 10 was prepared which layer was formed of a 0.77 μm thick liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation wherein the average tilt angle in the film thickness direction was 33 degrees. A liquid crystal display device was produced so as to have the axis arrangement as shown in FIG. 5.

The liquid crystal cell 6 used in this example was produced using ZLI-1695 manufactured by Merck Ltd as a liquid crystalline material so that the liquid crystal layer thickness was 4.9 μm. The pre-tilt angle at both of the cell interfaces was 2 degrees, while the Δnd of the liquid crystal cell was approximately 320 nm.

The polarizer 7 (thickness: about 100 μm; SQW-062 manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was disposed on the viewer's side (the upper portion in FIG. 4) of the liquid crystal cell 6. Between the polarizer 7 and the liquid crystal cell 6 were disposed a polymeric stretched film formed of a uniaxially stretched polycarbonate film as the third optically anisotropic layer 9. The Δnd of the polymeric stretched film 9 was approximately 170 nm.

In the rear of the liquid crystal cell 6 viewed from the viewer were arranged a negative film with Rth=−130 nm produced above as the second optically anisotropic layer 11, a liquid crystal film as the first optically anisotropic layer 10, on the back of which a polarizer 8 was arranged. The Δnd of the liquid crystal film 10 with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation was 120 nm.

The absorption axes of the polarizers 7, 8, the slow axis of the polymeric stretched films 9, the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell 6 at both of the interfaces and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal film 10 were oriented as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows the contrast ratio from all the directions defined by the transmissivity ratio of white image 0 V and black image 5 V “(white image)/(black image)” when the backlight is on. The concentric circles are drawn to be at an interval of 20 degrees. Therefore, the outermost circle indicates 80 degrees from the center.

It was confirmed from FIG. 6 that the liquid crystal display device had excellent viewing angle characteristics.

Example 2

The configuration and axis arrangement of the liquid crystal display device of Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively.

The liquid crystal display device of this example was produced with the same procedures of Example 1 except that the position of the second optically anisotropic layer 11 was shifted from the backlight side of the liquid crystal cell (lower part in FIG. 7) to the viewer's side thereof (upper part in FIG. 7).

FIG. 9 shows the contrast ratio from all the directions defined by the transmissivity ratio of white image 0 V and black image 5 V “(white image)/(black image)” when the backlight is on. The concentric circles are drawn to be at an interval of 20 degrees. Therefore, the outermost circle indicates 80 degrees from the center.

It was confirmed from FIG. 9 that the liquid crystal display device had excellent viewing angle characteristics.

Example 3

The configuration and axis arrangement of the liquid crystal display device of Example 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.

The liquid crystal cell 6 of Example 1 is used. On the side of the substrate 2 opposite to the side on which the counter electrode 4 is formed are arranged a first optically anisotropic layer 10 and a polarizer 7. On the side of the substrate 1 opposite to the side on which the transparent electrode 3 is formed are arranged a second optically anisotropic layer 11, a third optically anisotropic layer 9 and a polarizer 8. A backlight 12 is arranged in the rear of the polarizer 8.

The polarizers 7,8, the first optically anisotropic layer 10, the second optically anisotropic layer 11 and the third optically anisotropic layer 9 are the same as those used in Example 1.

The polarizer 7 was disposed on the viewer's side (the upper portion in FIG. 10) of the liquid crystal cell 6. Between the polarizer 7 and the liquid crystal cell 6 was disposed a liquid crystal film as the first optically anisotropic layer 10. The Δnd of the liquid crystal film 10 with a fixed hybrid nematic orientation was approximately 120 nm.

In the rear of the liquid crystal cell 6 viewed from the viewer were arranged a negative film with Rth=−140 nm produced above as the second optically anisotropic layer 11 and a polymeric stretched film formed of a stretched polycarbonate film as the third optically anisotropic layer 9, on the back of which the polarizer 8 was arranged. The Δnd of the polymeric stretched film 9 was 120 nm.

The absorption axes of the polarizers 7, 8, the slow axis of the polymeric stretched films 9, the pre-tilt direction of the liquid crystal cell 6 at both of the interfaces and the tilt direction of the liquid crystal film 10 were oriented as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 shows the contrast ratio from all the directions defined by the transmissivity ratio of white image 0 V and black image 5 V “(white image)/(black image)” when the backlight is on. The concentric circles are drawn to be at an interval of 20 degrees. Therefore, the outermost circle indicates 80 degrees from the center.

It was confirmed from FIG. 12 that the liquid crystal display device had excellent viewing angle characteristics.

Example 4

The configuration and axis arrangement of the liquid crystal display device of Example 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively.

The liquid crystal display device of this example was produced with the same procedures of Example 3 except that the position of the second optically anisotropic layer 11 was shifted from the backlight side of the liquid crystal cell (lower part in FIG. 13) to the viewer's side thereof (upper part in FIG. 13).

FIG. 15 shows the contrast ratio from all the directions defined by the transmissivity ratio of white image 0 V and black image 5 V “(white image)/(black image)” when the backlight is on. The concentric circles are drawn to be at an interval of 20 degrees. Therefore, the outermost circle indicates 80 degrees from the center.

It was confirmed from FIG. 15 that the liquid crystal display device had excellent viewing angle characteristics.

Comparative Example 1

The configuration of the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 16. The liquid crystal display device of this example was produced with the same procedures of Example 1 except that the second optically anisotropic layer 11 was excluded.

FIG. 17 shows the contrast ratio from all the directions defined by the transmissivity ratio of white image 0 V and black image 5 V “(white image)/(black image)” when the backlight is on. The concentric circles are drawn to be at an interval of 20 degrees. Therefore, the outermost circle indicates 80 degrees from the center.

With regard to viewing angle characteristics, Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 are compared.

Comparing the contrast contour lines shown in FIGS. 6 and 17, it is confirmed that viewing angle characteristics are significantly improved using the second optically anisotropic layer 11.

In these examples, the experiments were carried out without using a color filter. Of course, the provision of a color filter in the liquid crystal cell can provide excellent multi-color or full-color images.

APPLICABILITY IN THE INDUSTRY

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device which can provide bright images and is high in front contrast and less in viewing angle dependency.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.
 2. A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.
 3. A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.
 4. A transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising at least: a backlight; a polarizer; a third optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 130 to 210 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; a homogeneously oriented liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates; a second optically anisotropic layer with negative retardation; a first optically anisotropic layer with a retardation of 50 to 140 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, the first optically anisotropic layer comprising at least a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid liquid crystal orientation structure.
 5. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the second optically anisotropic layer has a plane direction retardation (Re) in the range of 0 nm to 30 nm and a thickness direction retardation (Rth) in the range of −200 nm to −30 nm, both at a wavelength of 550 nm, when the relationship of the principal indices of refraction, (Re), and (Rth) are represented by formulas (1) to (3), respectively: nx≧ny>nz  (1) Re=(nx−ny)xd  (2) Rth={nz−(nx+ny)/2}xd  (3) wherein nx and ny denote principal indices of plane direction refraction of the optically anisotropic layer, nz denotes a principal index of thickness direction refraction of the optically anisotropic layer, and d denotes the thickness (nm) thereof.
 6. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the second optically anisotropic layer is formed from at least one type of material selected from the group consisting of liquid crystalline compounds, triacetyl cellulose, polyamides, polyimides, polyesters, polyether ketones, polyamide imides, polyester imides and cyclic olefin polymers.
 7. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the third optically anisotropic layer is a stretched polymer film.
 8. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the third optically anisotropic layer is a liquid crystal film produced by fixing a liquid crystalline substance exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, in a nematic orientation formed when the substance is in the liquid crystal state.
 9. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the angle defined by the tilt direction of the hybrid direction of the liquid crystal film forming the first optically anisotropic layer, projected to a plane and the rubbing direction of the liquid crystal layer is in the range of 0±30 degrees.
 10. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the angle defined by the tilt direction of the hybrid direction of the liquid crystal film forming the first optically anisotropic layer, projected to a plane and the slow axis of the third optically anisotropic layer is in the range of 70 degrees or larger and smaller than 110 degrees.
 11. The transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first optically anisotropic layer is a liquid crystal film produced by fixing a liquid crystalline substance exhibiting an optically positive uniaxiality, in a nematic hybrid orientation formed when the substance is in the liquid crystal state, and the average tilt angle of the nematic hybrid orientation is in the range of 5 to 45 degrees. 